Banjo



E. N. GUCKERT.

BANJO. APPLICATION I ILED JULY I8. I92]- 1,412,239. P tente Apr. 11, 1922.

INVENTUR.

rmwesen it. seems. or some, 0310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I E winphll Gigoinikr, a citizen of the United-'Sthtes a'nd irresi- State of Ohio; haveinvehted aicertainnew and useful Banjo; and T de her obi declare the follow'ing' tovbe n fiill', cle:ir, :in'chcxzict description of'the invention," such ns will enable others skilled in the arttb ivh'iohdt" apperteins to make anduse 'tliefsitine: ref erence being bad to the new: ings, and to the'chariifcters' 'of reference marked thereon, which form a part, of this specification.

This invention relates to musical instruments and particularly to banjos.

It has been customary in some cases to provide banjos with double rims spaced apart to form a sound chamber therebetween and to project the head coacting edge of the inner rim above that of the outer rim so that the head is-drawn taut over and in engagement with the inner rim. In order that the strings may have suflicient clearance over the raised edges of the head the finger board and tail piece are raised sufiiciently for such purpose. This raising of the points of attachment of the strings with respect to the head reduces the pressure of the bridge on the head and is therefore detrimental to the volume and quality of tone produced by a plaving of the instrument.

The object of the invention is the provision of means in connection with a banjo of this character whereby raising of the head by the inner rim does not change the normal positions of fastening of the strings to the neck and tail piece and causes the bridge to exert a greater tension or pressure on the head then is ordinarily the case, thereby resulting in more perfect tones. as the tone is largely dependent on the tenseness of the strings and pressure of the bridge on the head.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a face View of a banjo embodying the invention. wtih parts broken away. l iig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 22 in Fig. 1, with a part broken away,

. entFFi'g 1821; fa e ps ti of L erdistant v l atont6d -Api'-. 11,1922. i

Application am 51511 ner'rring tetefemwingg, 1 mm ne bodi 'i'i ms 'l'hiitl' hailtl lllil toudby a. tension ring 5 secured around the upper edge portion of the outer rim 1 by tension bolts or clamps 6 in the usual or any suitable manner. 7 designates the strings of the banjo which are connected at one end to a tail piece 8 and at their other end to keys at the outer end portion of the neck 3. The strings are held sup orted above the head 4 by the customary ridge 9.

In carrying out my invention the upper e as of the mner rim 2 of the body is cut down or recessed at opposite sides ofits axis at points below the strings 7, as shown at 10. to permit the head 4, when drawn taut across the rim, to extend down into such recesses substantially to a depth on a. level with the upper edge of the outer rim 1, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This causes an outward bellying of the head with the bow or are thereof lengthwise of the strings, and enables the customary low points of attachment of the strings to the tail piece and neck relative to the outer rim 1 to be maintuined and at the same time provides sufli cient clearance between the head and the strings at the points of crossing of the head.

The bridge 9 beers downward on the head bow and exerts a considerable straightening out downward pressure on the head when the strings are ti htened, thereby tendlng to straighten out he head how. The pressure which is thus exerted by the strings on the head in combination with the double rim feature tends to produce full. rich tones of better-quality and volume than is otherwise possible, and from a commercial standpoint is found to be of material value.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as 1t is capable of embodiment in numerous forms m eeer guesses; newness head without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is,-

1. A banjo having its body provided with spaced inner and outer rims with the upper edge of the inner rim projecting above the upper edge of the outer rim except at oints below the strin s where its upper e ge is recessed, and u iead drawn over the inner andouter body rims and having portions thrown down into the recesses of the inner rim whereby the head is outwardly bellied.

A banjo having inner and outer 5 seed body rims with the up er edge of the inner rim projecting above t at of the outer rim and recessed at diametrically opposite points, a head drawn taut over the upper edges of the rims in contact therewith and having portions drawn into the innerrim depressions, strings extending over the head above the depressed portions thereof, means for holding the strings taut and a bridge between the strings and head in the diametrical line of the depressions.

3. A ban'o having inner and outer body rims space apart with the upper edge of the inner rim extending above that of the outer rim and recessed at diametrically opposite points to a depth substantially flush with the upper edge of the outer rim, a neck extending from the side of the body in the diametrical line of the recesses, a tail piece secured to the other side of the body in the diametricai line of therecesses, a head drawn taut over the upper edges of the body rims with portions extending down into the inner rim recesses, strings connecting the neck and tail piece over the head and recesses and a bridge between the strings and head tendingby tension of the strings to depress the head between the rim recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD N. GUUKERT. 

